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Hundreds of parents urge Scottsdale board to halt proposed repurposing of Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon
Summary
At a Nov. 13 public hearing, families and community members urged the Scottsdale Unified School District governing board to delay or abandon recommendations to repurpose Pima Elementary and Echo Canyon, citing program loss, community impact and requests for a two-year growth plan; a final vote is scheduled for Dec. 9.
Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Scott Menzel on Thursday told the governing board he recommended repurposing Echo Canyon and Pima Elementary as part of a two‑phase plan to right‑size the district amid long‑term enrollment decline and a structural budget shortfall. "Tonight, we're here for a topic of conversation that none of us in the room ever wanted to have," Menzel said, adding the district has lost more than 6,000 students since 2010 and is facing a roughly $7.9–$9 million structural deficit.
The board held a statutory public hearing required under ARS 15 3 41 32 but made no decision; it scheduled a vote on the recommendation for Dec. 9. Menzel said district staff set growth targets for schools with fewer than 450 students and offered marketing support, but both Pima and Echo Canyon remained below the 350‑student target for the 2024–25 school year.
Why it matters: Pima and Echo Canyon speakers described the schools as neighborhood…
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